El Al announced on Tuesday, 14 Cheshvan that numerous flights would be canceled as a result of employee job actions. Company management explained that they were unable to find pilots wiling to fly flights to New York.

Many passengers were furious, explaining they were never notified of the flight cancelations, including Tzipi Yarom of Mishpacha Magazine who was scheduled to cover the elections in the US but was unable to get onto her flight earlier in the week since it was delayed for nine hours.

The El Al’s Pilots’ Committee feels the airline management is giving it a bad name, insisting every flight without exception could have been on time and the committee accuses management of continuing to lie instead of addressing the matters at hand.

As a result of events flight 317 to London was delayed two hours and finally left on an Arkia plane. Flights to NYC and to Thailand were delayed.

El Al released a memo to the media in which it explains the responses it received from personnel when they tried reaching crew members for scheduled flights.

Flight to NYC:

1. First person did not response

2. Was ill at 18:14

3. First did not answer and later refused.

4. Did not answer

5. Is willing to fly under the condition he returns as a passenger, not pilot

6. Didn’t answer

7. Didn’t answer

8. Did not answer

9. Willing to fly under the condition he returns as a passenger, not pilot

Flight 317 to London:

1. Was scheduled to head the flight but reported to be ill at 19:22

2. At 19:00 said he could fly but did not respond after that

3. Refused

4. Did not answer and later answered and refused

5. Did not answer

6. An addition six first officers did not respond and three others refused

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)